Vicars of Ardleigh

The Vicars of Ardleigh (up to 1902)

• c1120 - JOTSELINA

• 1140 - Robert WILLIAM

• c1237 - Under Archdeacon of Colchester

• 1294 - Giles FOLLOL

• 1294 - Norman de BRAUNFORD

• 1310 - Nicholas de HADHAM

• 1332 - Henry DAVY

• c1360 - Michael de NORTHBURGH

• c1365 - Robert WARD

• 1371 - Stephen BALTON

• 1381 - John WACE

• c1410 - John ROFFEY

• 1421 - William BURRETH

• c1424 - John GRESHAM

• 1427 - William CROSBY

• 1432 - Richard WEYNGE

• 1440 - John AWBREY

• 1452 - Thomas SELEY

• 1454 - Adam SABYN

• 1456 - Roger CHAPLAINE

• 1457 - Thomas BENET

• 1460 - Thomas TURTON

• 1462  - Thomas FRAY

• c1470 - Edmund SALTER

• 1474 - John JAVYN

• c1485 - John GRAVELY

• 1506 - John BALDWYN

• 1522 - Alexander COOKE

• 1526 - Robert HARVYE

• 1528 - John SMYTH

• 1529 - Thomas LOWND

• 1530 - Thomas WILKINSON

• 1531 - Richard BOROWGHE

  • Was the vicar during the reformation and was possibly the first married priest. In the parish records are entered the baptisms for Robert, Margaret (1), Grisell and Margaret (2), children of a Richard Bowrough, dated 1560, 1563, 1565 & 1567.

• 1544 - William JOHNSON

• 1562 - Richard BOROWGHE

• 1569 - Lawrence LYDE

  • He married an Alice ALLEN in 1571. She was from a great Ardleigh family at that time. They had two children Lydia and Anna, both baptised in Ardleigh. 'When Lawrence Lyde, vicar of Ardleigh, was complained of by a woman, 'because her child was baptized without any gossips (godparents)', he claimed ' There were gossips', and was enjoined to prove it under the hands of six parishioners'.

• 1602 - Geoffrey ALDERTON

  • Had three sons baptised at Ardleigh and was buried there in 1612.

• 1612 - Gabriel HONEY-FOLD

  • He is mentioned as being stoned and jeered by the mob of Colchester in 1642. He sought safety in the jail, he was then 70 years. Eventually he was turned out or died of that same year.

• 1642 - John NETTLES

• c1643 - John DOUGHTY

  • Both of the John DOUGHTY's were probably related, perhaps father and son. The latter appears to have had eleven children baptised at Ardleigh.

• c1644 - Nathaniel Carr (**probably 'Intruder')

• c1655 - Benjamin Hubbard (**probably 'Intruder')

• 1662 - Stephen BREWER

• 1664 - John DOUGHTY

  • Appears to have had eleven children baptised at Ardleigh.

• 1723 - Lawrence JACKSON

  • In the church was a large marble memorial in memory of Lawrence. (see St Mary's Church page) Written in Latin. Both he and his wife are buried just outside the church, he died in 1772, aged 81 years. A document dated from 1770 to the Bishop of London from the Churchwardens (the writer Churchwarden Edward INGRAM) states The Churchwardens of the time held the Minister in good regard. They state that he was of 'a sober unblameable and exemplary life.' He preached every Sunday and gave the King and Royal family their proper and respectful titles. Administered the Lord's Supper seven times a year, one being at Easter and educated the youth of the Parish every Wednesday and Friday during lent. The congregation was stated as being very good and 'behaved' themselves reverently and orderly.

• 1772 - Nathaniel FORSTER

• 1791 - John KELLY

  • He was a Doctor of Laws and seemed to be an important man in the Parish. (see Notable People page).

• 1807 - Henry BISHOP

  • He was a curate for four years before becoming the Vicar for 45 years.

• 1851 - Charles Cuthbert SOUTHEY

  • He was the son of Robert Southey, a poet. He exchanged his life in Ardleigh for one in Dorset.

• 1855 - James TODD

• 1872 - Thomas Walter PERRY

  • He was an expert in Ecclesiastical Law. Through his hard work the Nave and Chancel of the Church was built in 1883, in that year he was made Canon of St Albans.

• 1891 - Greville Turner HALES

  • He left Ardleigh to live in Colchester's St-Mary-at-the-Walls.

• 1897 - Frederick Joseph BALL

• 1902 - Reginald Hall GRUBBE

  • He wrote a book on Ardleigh called ' A few notes on Ardleigh'.

• 1927 - Walter Alex PARKER-MASON

• 1952 - Graham Douglas LEONARD

• 1955 - John Ernest FARMILOE

• 1958 - Francis W. L. BUTCHER (see picture on Old Village Photos)

• 1963 - John Charles GOULDING (see picture on Old Village Photos)

• 1973 - Reg. A DONCASTER

• 1994 - Trevor Charles DIAPER

• 1997 - Nicolas SPICER

** - Taken From The Rectors & Vicars Board in St Mary's

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